CHESTER, Pa. – Neumann University Softball history was made on Thursday afternoon as
Emily Ammon picked up three stolen bases in a non-conference doubleheader against Widener University. She is now the single-season leader in program history with 27, helping the Knights sweep the two games by scores of 7-6 and 6-3.
E. Ammon, in addition to her baserunning prowess, had a strong overall twin bill going 2 for 6 with two doubles, two walks, a run batted in, and four runs scored.
Alexis Palombi went 4 for 8 with a double and four RBI, and
Bri Reim was 2 for 5 with two doubles, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.
After a scoreless first inning of game one,
Sydney Wright led off the second with a base hit to center.
Nicole Anderson followed with a double to left, pushing Wright to third.
Bri Reim pushed the game's first run across with a sacrifice fly to plate Wright. After
Tori Spinella hit an infield single, the Knights pulled off a double steal as Spinella took second and Anderson grabbed home for a 2-0 lead. Spinella immediately stole third and two batters later, she scored when E. Ammon doubled her in.
Cioni Simmons followed with a walk and both her and E. Ammon advanced a base on a double steal. Palombi then singled, scoring E. Ammon, giving the Knights a four-run edge.
Widener responded in the bottom of the inning, putting up a run thanks to an error, another on an RBI ground out, and a third on an RBI single, getting the Pride within one. Widener was able to take the lead in the third on a two-run single.
In the sixth, Reim led off with a double and three batters later, moved to third as E. Ammon reached on an error. As E. Ammon stole second, Reim scored on the throw to tie the game at five. After another E. Ammon steal, this time of third, Simmons followed with a check-swing single to bring her in to score for the lead. Palombi then smashed a double to left and Simmons scored for a 7-5 lead. The Pride scored in the seventh on an error, put the tying run in scoring position, and the winning run on base, but a lineout secured the win for Neumann.
Ang Sannicandro picked up the win in relief for her first win of the season. He went four innings in the circle, allowing one earned run on five hits and a walk, while striking out one.
The first two innings of game two went scoreless but in the third, Reim led off with a double to center. Two batters later,
Rylie Norris singled to move Reim to third. Norris stole second and Reim scored to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. E. Ammon and Simmons both followed with walks to load the bases. Palombi stepped up and drove in a run with a single to left and, after a pitching change,
Marina Costello drove in a third run on a sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, the Pride got on the board with a two-run home run to straight away centerfield, pulling within one. They then tied the game with an RBI double. Spinella led off the seventh inning with a single to center. Norris reached on an infield hit and E. Ammon walked, loading the bases. Simmons plated Spinella on a bunt single, to regain the lead. Palombi helped double their advantage with an RBI single into right field to score Norris. E. Ammon would then score on a wild pitch for the three-run lead.
Sydney Wright went the distance for her third complete game of the season. In seven innings, she allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks, fanning six. Her 105 pitch effort results in her second win of the season.
Neumann (9-29, 4-4 Atlantic East) will be back in action on Sunday as they close the regular season with a conference doubleheader at Gwynedd Mercy University. A playoff berth is on the line as the first game is scheduled for a 12:00 PM start.
